Process of making bridle-bits



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. E. VAN NESS 81; R. O. W. LEWIS. PROCESS OF MAKING BRIDLE BITS.

No. 449,300. I Patented Mar. 31,1891.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. E. VAN NESS 81R. 0. W. LEWIS.

mocnss OF MAKING BRIDLE BITS.

No. 449,300. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

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No. 449,300. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

UNITED STATES Parent first a.

THOMAS E. VAN NESS, OF NElVARK, AND ROLLIN C. \V. LEWIS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEYV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF MAKING BRlDLE-BITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,300, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed August 11, 1890. Serial No. 361,641. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS E. V AN NEss,

of Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, and

RoLLIN O. W. LEWIS, of Jersey City, Hudson county, New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Manufacturing Bridle-Bits; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description to of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to obtain a more easy and positive movementof the checkpieces of the bridle-bit in the end sockets or bulbs of the mouth-piece, and thereby secure a more perfect and workmanlike article of manufacture; and it consists in the improved process or method of manufacturing bits, hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan of blank check-pieces, showing the same in connection with the web or fins formed by the dies first employed. Fig. 2 is a section of the same, taken on line a". Fig. 3 shows the blank check-piece after a subsequent operation; and Fig. 4: is a section of the same, taken on line 1 Fig. 5 shows the mouthpiece arranged on the check-piece ready to be fastened. Figs. 5 and 5 illustrate the method of swelling or forcing the metal of the pivotal pin or bar of the cheek-piece, so as to hold the check-piece in place; and Fig. 0 6 shows the check-piece and mouth-piecesin final relation to one another. Fig. 7 is a section illustrating the check-piece and mouthpiece of the bit in one of its forms. Fig. '7

is a preferred form of the same. Fig. 7" is a detached section of the mouth-piece, and Fig. 8 is a view of the bit complete.

In said drawings, a indicates the mouthpiece, which may be made of a single piece or of several pieces linked or otherwise joined together in any ordinary manner.

Z) Z) are the check-pieces, consisting of the rein-rings c and pivotal bar or pin (Z.

Herctofore ordinarily in the class of bits to which this invention refers more particularly the check-pieces have been formed complete and the eye 6 has been heated and bent around the pivotal pin. By this construction the eye was deficient in strength, and an imperfect joint ordinarily resulted, owing to the contraction of the heated metal producingloose- 6o ness, and because of the hammering or forging processes employed in turning the end of the mouth-piece around the pivotal pin, by means of which the metal of the pin was to some extent distorted. Thus in turning the parts one on the other the said parts would oftentimes turn loosely at one part of their movements and bind at other parts.

By the mode of construction herein disclosed a uniform and regular movement is secured throughoutthat is to say, the parts work with sufficient ease and freedom at all points in the desired course of movement, and yet not with such looseness as to render the bit defective as an article of manufacture intended to meet the ordinary tests applied to bits, by which good workmanship is distinguished.

In our improved method or process of manufacturing the bits we first strike up or'form So from suitable metal the blank check-pieces, as indicated in Fig. 1. After the webs orfins f are sheared off or otherwise removed the pin or bar (Z is placed in a suitable machine or former and brought to the shape indicated in Fig. 3, in which the portion g of the pin or bar is given a true cylindrical form, or at least the same is made round in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. t. This may be done by any suitable means, but preferably it is, done by some method of turning. The eye or socket of the mouth-piece is also cut orotherwise formed to closely fit the said portion g, so that by the pressure of a finger the check-piece will turn on the pin or bar, but will be suffi- 5 ciently tightin its fitto sustain its own Weight, which is one of the ordinary tests of good workmanship. The portion h of the pin or bar is made smaller than the part g, so as to allow the eye to be easily moved thereover. 10o

The said portion 9 is made somewhat longer than the width of the eye, asshown in Fig.

5, so as to project beyond the same when the mouth-piece is first placed on said pin or bar.

The eye of the mouth-piece may be countersunk, as atc' in Fig. 7 and after said eye has been placed in position, as in Fig. 5, the projecting metal is forced up into the recess formed by countersinking, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7; or the metal is swelled,.forming a stop-shoulder Fig. 5 which holds the mouth-piece firmlydn place and yet allowsan easy and smooth movement of the partsone on the other. Instead of being a true cylinder, the part g may be slightly tapering and the eye be made to correspond, but for convenience and facility of manufacture we prefer the true cylindrical form, as in Fig. 7. After the mouth-piece has been joined to the checkpiece, as described, we form the rein-eye complete by turning the portion 7L into the portion h, Fig. 5, weld the two together, making a ring complete with a perfect union of parts. The heat necessary in welding the rein-ring, applied after the check-pieces and mouthpieces are joined together, is away from the metal forming the joint between the parts, and asaresultthe jointis not affected thereby to distort the parts and render the joint defective.

\Ve are aware that modifications may be made in this process, and We do not wish to be limited to specific operations not referred to in the claims. 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new-is 1. The method or process of manufacturing bridle-bits, which consists in forming the mouth-piece and check-pieces to fit one another while said parts are yet independent of one another, and afterward joining said parts and subjecting the metal adjacent to said joint of one of said parts to pressure, whereby the said metal is forced to form a stop without affecting the metal forming the joint, substantially as set forth.

2. The method or process of manufacturing bridle-bits, which consists in forming on the mouth-piece an eye and on the checkpiece a close-fitting cylindrical portion longer than said eye, joining said parts, and forcing the projecting metal of said cylindrical portion against said check-piece to hold the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The method of manufacturing bridlebits, which consists in forming the mouthpiece, as described, while separated from one another, the check being provided with an open rein-ring, then arranging said mouthpiece on said check-piece, and closing said rein-ring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 2d day of August, 1890.

THOMAS E. VAN NESS.

ROLLIN O. V. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OSCAR A. MICHEL. 

